Abstract: Process and equipment for the treatment of loads or residues of non-ferrous metals and their alloys including the steps of loading of scraps or dross to be processed; heating the load (29) and melting the metal; revolving the heated load (29), tapping the molten metal and emptying the cavity (28) of the furnace, being the heating up of the load (29) or residues (23) to a temperature above the melting temperature of the metal or non-ferrous alloy to be recovered carried out by means of a free burning convective arc which is independent from the supply of external gas to the process, and which may dispense with the use of melting salts.